Holy Week 2017: 7 Churches You Must Go To If You're In Metro Manila For Visita Iglesia 2017

A Filipino Catholic priest sprinkles holy water to bless churchgoers' palm fronds during Palm Sunday mass, marking the start of the Holy Week, inside Mother of Perpetual Church in Baclaran, Paranaque city, metro Manila March 29, 2015. The Baclaran Church is one of the churches in the list of places to go to for Visita Iglesia 2017 during Holy Week.
REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

It's Holy Week already and on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, a lot of Roman Catholics will visit numerous churches for the Visita Iglesia (Church Visit) Lenten tradition. During the Visita Iglesia, seven or up to 14 churches are visited to reflect on the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Visita Iglesia 2017: Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross is usually recited and the Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary and Glory Be are also prayed before the churches' Blessed Sacrament. Thankfully, there are a lot of churches that you can visit in Metro Manila during Holy Week 2017. Check them out below.

Seven Churches You Must Go To If You're In Metro Manila For Visita Iglesia:

1. Manila Cathedral

Located at Cabildo corner Beaterio Streets at Plaza de Roma in Intramuros, the Manila Cathedral is a church that you must go to during Visita Iglesia, especially if you're near the area. It is also referred to as the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. This church serves as the Archbishop of Manila's Episcopal See, or the area of a bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction. It has also been a regular venue for papal Masses in the Philippines.

2. San Agustin Church

Another beautiful church in Intramuros is found on General Luna Street and it's the San Agustin Church. The 440+ years old church is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site and the only one in Manila.

3. Malate Church

Formerly known as the Our Lady of Remedies Parish Church, Malate Church in Manila is right behind the Plaza Rajah Sulayman which is across the Manila Bay. It was established on Sept. 8, 1588 by the Augustinian friars and is the oldest of the 17 listed churches in the county that honor Mary with the title "Nuestra Señora de los Remedios" (Our Lady of Remedies).

4. Baclaran Church

Visita Iglesia in Metro Manila seems incomplete without a visit to the popular Baclaran Church, aka the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help which is located on Redemptorist Road in Baclaran, Parañaque City. Due to its address, it is also referred to as the Redemptorist Church. It is one of the largest Marian churches in the country. Every Wednesday, devotees flock to the church to pray the Novena to the Our Mother of Perpetual Help as well as attend mass.

5. Nuestra Señora de Gracia Church

This 400-year-old church has a combination of Baroque and Renaissance architecture. It is located on 7440 Bernardino Street in Makati City. It was constructed in 1629 and was founded by Augustinians. In 1983, it was reconstructed and re-opened to the public.

6. St. Joseph Parish Church

Also known as the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ Church, this church houses the city's famous Bamboo Organ, a 19th-century church organ made mostly with bamboo pipes. It can be found on P. Diego Cera Avenue in Las Piñas City.

7. Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace

This popular church on EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue in Quezon City is also known as the EDSA Shrine. It was built in 1989 to commemorate the People Power Revolution as well as its peaceful outcome. The church's site is where the EDSA I and EDSA II revolutions were held.

What do you think of the seven churches mentioned in this article for Visita Iglesia? Will you visit seven or even 14 churches this Holy Week 2017? Let us know in the comments area at the bottom part of this page.

The local stock market is expected to move sideways from Monday to Wednesday, April 10-12. On April 13 and 14, financial markets will be closed to observe the Holy Week's Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Uncertainty looms around global markets as oil prices slip Monday due to an increase in the number of rigs from West Texas Intermediate. Adding to the worry is the possible exit of Britain from the European Union (EU).